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City's Leaders Consider Joining Study Of Increased Metra Service

December 11, 1997|By Ken O'Brien.

LOCKPORT — City officials might take an interest in getting Metra to add more trains for a passenger line through Lockport.

Lemont Mayor Richard Kwasneski has asked fast-growing communities along the Metra Heritage Corridor Line, including Lockport, to indicate if they are willing to support a feasibility study to determine whether more trains can be added to the line.

Kwasneski wants support to show Metra that more trains should be added to the southwest suburban line between Willow Springs and Joliet.

Four trains run daily along the Heritage Corridor Line: two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

In a letter released Wednesday night during a City Council meeting, Lockport Mayor Frank Mitchell told Kwasneski his city might be willing to support such a study. Lockport first wants to know how much it would cost and whether other governmental bodies along the line would participate.

Lockport has expressed support for additional passenger rail service.

Mitchell wrote that Lockport, depending upon costs of participation in the study, might be willing to listen to a presentation about any proposals to expand train service.

"Our residents have been requesting additional train service for years," Mitchell said. "As a growing community, we feel there is a demand to add more commuter service."